Despite winning the NBA Championship and an Olympic gold medal, Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum has garnered a lot of flack.

Even though he was a key part of both teams, Tatum has garnered criticism for not being named Finals MVP (that went to teammate Jaylen Brown) and for being benched for Team USA against Nikola Jokic and Serbia.

However, fans and experts have begun to take back their negative comments on the five-time All-Star, including former Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins.

“Jayson Tatum, I apologize because we should mention your name more often when it comes down to the three letters of MVP,” Perkins said on NBA Today. “We talk about everybody else, but we don’t talk about this man who, constantly night in and night out, is flirting with 30-point triple-doubles.”

Tatum has been having an incredible season, averaging 28.4 points, 8.2 total rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game across 18 games. He is also shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from the three-point line.

This is easily keeping him on pace with other MVP frontrunners, like the aforementioned Jokic.

Jokic, a three-time MVP, is currently averaging 29.7 points, 10.9 assists, 1.5 assists, and a league-leading 13.4 total rebounds with the Denver Nuggets.

Additionally, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers is also having a career-best season, averaging 29.8 points, 11.4 total rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.

One major advantage Tatum has over both of these players is his team’s record. The Celtics are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 15-3 record, right behind the 17-1 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are boasting a 9-7 record and the Lakers have a 10-7 record in the Western Conference. This gives Tatum an additional edge over his MVP competitors, especially since he leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.

This marks the closest Tatum has come in the MVP race since the 2022-23 NBA season where he came in fourth behind Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. That season, Tatum averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 total rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 74 games.

In the end, it’s going to be a tough MVP race, and a few bad games could easily be the decider for who walks away with the NBA’s top individual prize.

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BOSTON – Need to run to the store for a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner ingredient? Or hoping to get an early start on Black Friday shopping? Here’s what’s open and closed on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts, and some background about the “blue laws” that regulate the holiday.

What are “blue laws” in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is one of just three states that prohibit most stores from opening on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas thanks to “blue laws.” According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, blue laws were established by colonial governments of the 1600s to make sure people went to church on Sundays and observed the Sabbath.

They’re called blue laws because blue was a color associated with high morality. 

What stores are closed on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts?

As noted above, most retail stores are prevented from opening on Thanksgiving, but more and more chains are deciding to give their employees a day off. Framingham-based TJX will close all TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores on Thanksgiving. 

Other big-name stores found in Massachusetts like Target, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Macy’s are keeping locations closed nationwide for the holiday.

Are supermarkets and grocery stores open on Thanksgiving?

Large supermarkets and grocery store chains in Massachusetts will be closed on Thanksgiving. That includes Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Big Y, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Star Market and Hannaford. 

Small food stores that employ three people or fewer are exempt from the blue laws.

Are pharmacies open on Thanksgiving?

Stores with pharmacies are allowed to open, so you can go to CVS if you need to pick something up on Thanksgiving Day. Store hours may be shortened for the holiday, however.

Walgreens said most of its locations will be closed, except for 24-hour stores with pharmacies.

Can restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts?

Yes, restaurants are allowed to open on Thanksgiving. For coffee lovers that includes Dunkin’ and Starbucks as well, though hours may be limited.

Are liquor stores open on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts?

While restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol on Thanksgiving, liquor stores are required to close for the holiday in Massachusetts. 

Are gas stations open on Thanksgiving?

Yes, gas stations are open for Thanksgiving in Massachusetts.

Mail delays in Boston remain a hot topic for city, state and federal officials who’ve been inundated with complaints. They’re now calling on the U.S. Postal Service to act.

Members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation mailed a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calling for the release of zip code-centered data and whether he will allow USPS staff to speak with congressional members in light of an email chain among USPS management that suggested Boston City Council was “politically motivated” while considering whether Boston Postmaster Joshua Balcunas should testify in response to a subpoena from the city.

“USPS, as a government entity, has a responsibility to come and to testify before Boston City Council to give them answers as to why there’s inadequate mail service across the city,” U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said at an event Wednesday, with the busiest period of the year

Elected officials are seeking answers from the U.S. Postal Service, but multiple requests for testimony have been rejected.

City councilors at the event expressed a similar concern.

“It’s really difficult because that’s the only way we have to have a conversation,” District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon said.

“The fact that they wouldn’t even show us the answers to the questions speaks volumes,” said District 6 Councilor Ben Weber.

USPS has consistently said that mail delivery is within service standards, but did not reply to our requests for comment on Wednesday.

Mail delays are causing frustration for some Boston locals. Neighborhoods like Roxbury and Mission Hill have apparently been dealing with late-arriving postal service for months, causing bills, checks and important safety information to be missed.

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Quelling concerns from the officials and postal union representatives at Wednesday’s event could get more complicated in 2025 with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, under whom DeJoy became postmaster general in 2020.

But Markey said Trump’s return to the White House won’t hinder his efforts for postal accountability.

“Donald Trump will try, with Elon Musk, to privatize the Postal Service,” said Sen. Markey, “That’s going to be inevitable. He’s in for a battle.”

Massachusetts leaders say they’re ready for the fights to come.

“For too many communities, the consequences of unreliable mail delivery aren’t just an inconvenience, they’re life-altering,” Markey said.

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said it “just depends on keeping our foot on the gas.”